If you've ever Googled "[insert literally any piece of media] appropriate for kids," you've probably landed on Common Sense Media. It's a non-profit that reviews movies, TV shows, games, apps, books, and more — with detailed breakdowns of what parents actually need to know.
Think of it as the parenting version of Rotten Tomatoes, except instead of pretentious film critics debating cinematography, you get real parents discussing whether a PG-13 movie has "mild peril" or "genuinely traumatizing animal death scenes that will haunt your 8-year-old for weeks."
The site has been around since 2003, and it's completely free. No paywall, no subscription, just a massive database of reviews written by their editorial team, plus ratings and reviews from other parents and kids themselves.
Here's the thing: the MPAA rating system is... let's just say it's not great. A movie can be rated PG-13 for "intense sequences" — but is that Marvel action violence or Saving Private Ryan beach landing violence? Big difference when you're deciding what your 10-year-old can handle.
Common Sense Media breaks it down by category: violence, scary scenes, language, sex/nudity, drinking/drugs/smoking, consumerism, and positive messages. Each gets its own rating and explanation. So instead of just "PG-13," you get "moderate violence (cartoon-style fighting, no blood), brief strong language (one F-word), no sexual content."
And here's what makes it actually useful: they suggest age ratings that are often MORE conservative than official ratings. That PG-13 Marvel movie? Common Sense might say "11+" while another parent review might say "okay for mature 8-year-olds." You get multiple perspectives.
According to our Screenwise data, about 42% of families let kids use YouTube solo, and 40% are watching regular Netflix (not just the kids' profile). That means a LOT of parents are making daily decisions about what's appropriate — and Common Sense Media is one of the best free tools to help with those calls.
For movies and shows: Search the title, scroll past the summary, and go straight to the "What Parents Need to Know" section. This is the gold. It tells you exactly what happens that might be concerning, with specific examples. "A character says 'damn' twice in the first 10 minutes" is way more helpful than "mild language."
For games: They break down violence, educational value, and whether there are in-app purchases or chat features. This is clutch for something like Roblox, where the game itself might be fine but the social features need serious supervision. (And yes, only 8% of families in our data let kids use TikTok, but 55% are gaming — so this matters.)
For apps: They'll tell you about data collection, advertising, and whether kids can interact with strangers. Essential for anything social.
The parent and kid reviews: Scroll down to read what other families thought. Some parents are more permissive, some are more strict — you'll find your people. And the kid reviews are honestly hilarious and often more honest than the adult ones.
Common Sense Media isn't perfect. Their age recommendations skew conservative, which is fine if you're also conservative about content, but might feel overly cautious if you're more relaxed. A family that's cool with their 7-year-old watching The Bad Guys might roll their eyes at some of the warnings.
They can't review everything. New YouTube channels, indie games, random Netflix drops — there's a lag. For really current stuff, you might need to dig into parent forums or ask our chatbot for quick guidance
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The "educational value" rating is... generous. They'll give points for teamwork and perseverance even in pretty mindless content. Don't use this as your only measure of whether something is worthwhile.
Different kids, different thresholds. Your anxiety-prone 9-year-old might be wrecked by something that doesn't faze their fearless 7-year-old sibling. Common Sense gives you information — you still have to know your kid.
Common Sense Media is genuinely one of the best free parenting resources on the internet. Bookmark it. Use it before you hit "play" on that new Pixar movie everyone says is fine (spoiler: Pixar makes parents cry, not kids, but still). Check it before downloading that game all the 3rd graders are suddenly obsessed with.
It won't make every decision for you — and honestly, that's good. You know your family. But it'll give you the information you need to make informed choices instead of just hoping for the best and dealing with nightmares later.
Start here: Pick one thing your kid has been begging to watch/play. Look it up on Common Sense Media. Read the "What Parents Need to Know" section and at least five parent reviews. Then make your call.
Make it a habit: Before saying yes to new content, do a quick Common Sense check. It takes 2 minutes and can save you from some truly regrettable viewing experiences.
Talk to your kid about it: If you're on the fence, read them the content warnings and ask what they think. "This review says there's a scary scene where a character almost drowns — how do you feel about that?" Sometimes they'll self-select out, which is the best outcome.
And if you want even more personalized guidance based on your family's specific values and your kid's sensitivities, that's exactly what Screenwise helps you figure out — but Common Sense Media is an excellent free starting point that every parent should have in their toolkit.